Valve



Jan. 10, 1939. c. s. CRICKMER ET AL VALVE Filed Oct. 50, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l may Jan. 10, 1939. c. s. 'CRICKMER El AL VALVE Filed Oct. 50, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 -atented den. 10, 1939 VALVE Charles S. @ricer and H C. Glitsch, we,

Ten, assignors to Merle. Tool fiombimyi Ten, a

ilk; i 1.:

Application @ctcber 3%, 1936, Serial No. 10%,318

9 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful irn= provements in valves.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved valve adapted to be connected in a well tubing for emptying or unloading the liquid from the annular space between the tubing and well casing.

An important object of the invention is to vide an improved valve for controlling a flow oi iluid from the interior of the well casing to the interior of the well tubing, and being constructed so as to be operated by the fluid, whereby said valve is opened when fluid to be drained is present in the casing and closed when no fluid is within said casing.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved valve arranged to be connected in a well tubing above the usual well packer, and including a chamber adapted to be acted upon by the fluid in the casing outside the tubing to actuate a valve which controls the flow from said casing to the tubing, whereby the use of a float, with its incidental disadvantages, as well as the necessity of providing perforations in the tubing for permitting such flow, are eliminated.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved valve for controlling the flow of fluid from a well casing to a well tubing, which is automatically operated by the presence of iiuid in the casing and which is not afiected by well pressures, or subject to deterioration by contact with the well fluid.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved valve including a solid operat-.

ing member, the structure being such that when said member is submerged in fluid, the resultant decrease in weight of said member is utilized to operate the valve.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features of the invention. I

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an example oi the invention is shown, and wherein:

Figure l is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation of a valve, constructed in accordance with the invention, 7

Figure 2 is an enlarged view, partly in section and partly in elevation of the valve member and seat,

Figure 3 is an enlarged horizontal, cross-sectional view, taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure l is a. view, partly in section and partly in elevation, oi? a modified form of the invention,

Figure 5 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view, taizen on the line 55 of Figure 4, and

Figure 6 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view, taken on the line 6-5 of Figure 4.

in the drawings, the numeral it designates an eicngate, cylindrical shell or housing having an upwardly extending reduced collar ii preferably made integral with its upper end. The lower end oi shell or housing is open, as is clearly shown Figure l. The upper end of the bore of the collar ii. is provided with screw threads i2, whereby the well tubing 53 may be secured into the upper end of said collar. The lower end of the bore of said collar is also threaded, as shown at M, and this threaded portion receives the upper end of an elongate tubular mandrel H5. The mandrel has a greater length than the length of the shell or housing Hi and as is clearly shown in Figure 1, said mandrel extends axially through said shell and has its lower end depending from the open end of the shell. The extreme lower end of the mandrel is externally threaded at it whereby this lower end may be connected to the well tubing (not shown). With this arrangement, it is obvious that the shell and mandrel carried thereby, may be connected in a string of well tubing, whereby they may be lowered with the tubing string into the well casing A. It is noted that the outer diameter of the shell or housing is substantially the same as the inner diameter of the well casing A, whereby there is only a slight clearance between the shell and casing.

For guiding the shell and mandrel downwardly within the casing A when the same is attached in the tubing string, a plurality of radially extending guide members ll are provided at the lower end oi the mandrel l5 just above the screw threads I5. As clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3, each guide member has its inner surface engaging the face or outer surface of the mandrel and is welded, or otherwise suitably fastened to said mandrel. The extreme upper end of each guide member abuts an annular flange I8 which is formed on the mandrel, the flange being located within the lower end oi. the shell or housing Ill. The upper end of each guide member also engages within the lower open end of the shell and, if desired, maybe secured to said shell. The outer face of each guide member is substantially in vertical alignment with the exterior surface of the shell and as the device is lowered into the well casing but also act as spacers between the shell of each guide member I! will ride on the inner surface of said well casing, whereby the shell and mandrel are guided axially within said casing. It is pointed out that the guide members not only serve to guide the device axially within the well casing but also act as spacers between the shell III and the mandrel I5, whereby the mandrel I5 is held in axial alignment within the shell.

Above the annular flange I8 on the mandrel I5, which flange is engaged by the upper end of each guide member, the mandrel is formed with a second flange I9 which is spaced some distance above the flange I8. This flange is also preferably made integral with the mandrel but does not extend outwardly from said mandrel the same distance as does the lower flange I8. Between the flanges I8 and IS, a plurality of openings or ports 20 are provided, whereby fluid from the well casing may enter the open lower end of the shell and flow into the ports 20 and then into the interior of the mandrel I5, from which point said fluid may pass upwardly into the well tubing I3. Thus, it will be seen that the ports or openings 20 establish a communication between the interior of the well casing A and the interior of the well tubing I3.

For controlling the flow of fluid through the openings 20, a valve member or sleeve 2| surrounds the mandrel I5 adjacent said ports. The internal diameter of the valve sleeve 2| is sub stantially the same as the external diameter of the upper flange I9, whereby said sleeve is slidable vertically over this flange. The extreme lower end of the sleeve is provided with an internal bevel 22 which is arranged to seat on a complementary bevel 22' which is formed on the upper end of the lower flange I8 (Figure 2). Near its upper end the sleeve is provided with an internal shoulder 23 which is so located within the sleeve that when the bevel 22 is engaging the seat 22, this shoulder 23 is engaging the upper end of the flange I9. Thus, it will be seen that when the bevel 22 at the lower end of the sleeve and the shoulder 23 near its upper end are seated, fluid cannot pass from the interior of the casing A and shell I 0 through the ports into the interior of the mandrel. However, when the sleeve 2I is raised to the position shown in full lines in Figure 1 and dotted lines in Figure 2, then the ports 20 are uncovered and fluid from the well casing may enter the mandrel I5. Therefore, it will be seen that the sleeve 2| positively controls the flow of fluid from the well casing A to the well tubing I3.

For actuating the valve sleeve 2| to cover and uncover the openings 20, an elongate annular casing 24 surrounds the mandrel I5, being located in the annular space formed between the mandrel I5 and the shell or housing ID. The lower end of the casing 24 is closed while the upper end thereof is open. It will be seen that the casing forms an annular vertical chamber which is open at its upper end. The lower end of the chamber is provided with an annular depending skirt 25 which is preferably made integral therewith. The skirt or apron is spaced from the outer surface of the mandrel I5 (Figure 2) whereby an annular space 26 is formed between the mandrel and said skirt. The extreme lower end of the skirt is externally screw threaded so that the upper end of the valve sleeve 2I may be screwed thereon. With this arrangement, it will be obvious that the valve sleeve 2| which controls the flow through the openings or ports 20 is carried by the annular vertical casing 24.

As is clearly shown in Figure 1, the casing 24 may undergo a vertical movement within the shell I0, and this casing is normally held in its upper or raised position by a coiled spring 21 which is located in the annular space 26, being conflned between the upper flange I9 on the mandrel I5 and the underside of the casing 24. When said casing is in its raised position the upper end thereof abuts a depending ring II' which is formed within the upper end of the shell II]. It is, of course, obvious that when the casing is raised, the valve sleeve 2| is also raised so that it is not in engagement with the bevelled seat 22' on the flange I8 and therefore, at this time, fluid may flow from the well casing A into the mandrel I5 and then into the tubing I3. A plurality of relief ports 28 are formed in the upper end of the shell or housing III at a point just below the upwardly extending collar II, as is clearly shown in Figure 1.

In operation, the device is connected in the tubing string, as has been explained and is ordinarily located just above the well packer (not shown) which is also carried by the tubing. During the lowering operation, the coil spring 21 is, of course, holding the annular casing 24 in a raised position, which holds the sleeve valve 2 I in its raised position whereby the ports 20 are uncovered. As the device enters the fluid standing within the well casing A, it will be obvious that such well fluid will flow into the shell I0 and will submerge the entire device. The fluid will, of course, enter the open top of the annular casing 24. Assuming that the packer (not shown) is set at a point where the entire device is submerged in well fluid, it will be seen that the fluid being within the annular casing 24 as well as outside of the same, there will be an equalization of fluid pressure Within and without said casing and, therefore, the coil spring 21 which is sulficient to support said casing will hold the same in its raised position.

The casing 24 will remain in this raised position until such time as the fluid within the easing A has passed through the openings or ports 20 into the mandrel I5 and finally into the tubing I3. So long as the casing 24 remains submerged in the well fluid there will be no change in its position and, thus, there will be no change in the position of the sleeve valve 2| which will remain open during this time. As soon as the well fluid within the casing A has drained through the ports 20 into the mandreland tubing I3 to a point where the fluid level within the well casing A has dropped some distance below the top of the annular casing 24, then it will be seen that the weight of the fluid within the casing 24 is added to said casing. This additional weight of the fluid within the casing 24 overcomes the tension of the coil spring 21 so that the casing 24 is lowered by gravity, which action'lowers the sleeve valve 2| so that the bevel 22 at its lower end engages the bevelled upper end 22' of the lower flange I8, and the internal shoulder 23 of said sleeve valve 2| engages the upper end of the annular flange I9, whereby the ports or openings 20 are closed. Thus, the flow of well fluid from the well casing A into the mandrel I5 is stopped.

The sleeve valve will remain in its lowered or closed position until such time as the well fluid within the well casing A rises to a point above the top of the open annular casing 24. when the fluid level rises above said casing, then it will be obvious that such casing is again submerged in the fluid. As soon as this occurs, the

ascents V fluid pressure within and without the casing is the same and the only weight which is placed upon the coil spring El is the actual weight of the casing 2% because the volume of fluid displaced by the casing is substantially equal to the volume of fluid trapped within said casing. Therefore, upon submerging the casing, the weight of the casing and trapped fluid is lightened to permit the spring to raise the casing. This coil spring will immediately raise the casing to its uppermost position which will cause the sleeve valve 2! to be slid upwardly, whereby the ports or openings 2b are again uncovered. Uncovering of these openings will, of course, permit the fluid standing within the well casing A to flow into the mandrel l and tubing l3, whereby drainage of this fluid standing in the well casing is accomplished. Of course, as soon as sumcient of the fluid drains into the tubing to lower the level below the top of the casing M, then said casing will again be lowered, as has been explained, to again close the valve 28 and thereby cover the ports.

It will be obvious that the action is entirely automatic being controlled by the fluid itself. That is, when the fluid level is high enough to submerge the casing M, then the coil. spring 21 raises said casing to open the ports or openings 20. Whenever the fluid level outside the casing falls below a predetermined level, the weight of the fluid within the casing will cause the same to overcome the spring tension and thus close the ports.

It is noted that no float is employed in operating the valve. It has been found that a float is most impractical because if a hollow float is made light enough to operate the valve it is not strong enough to withstand the heavy pressures always found in wells and, therefore, the float would be crushed. If such float were made strong enough to stand the pressure it is too heavy to float. some experimental work has been done in using solid non-metallic floats but their failures are due to the fact that so far no material has been found which can remain submerged in an oil well for a long period of time without becoming soaked or water-logged and losing its buoyancy with the result that its efliciency fails. The structure shown and described herein eliminates the pressure dimculty as the pressure on the inside of the chamber is equal to and balances the pressure on the outside of the chamber. The weight of the fluid trapepd within the casing 2d is depended upon to lower the chamber and thus close the valve. A positive automatic action is had at all times and since there are few working parts to the invention, it has been found that it may remain in a well for a great length of time and operate emciently under all conditions.

In Figures 4 to 6, we have shown a modified form of the invention, wherein an annular solid body 38 is substituted for the annular casing 26. This body is preferably constructed of metal and has a depending skirt 25', to which the upper end of the valve sleeve ii is secured. The coil spring El is confined within the skirt 2% and exerts its pressure against the lower end of the body 30. The weight of the body is such that normally, the spring is compressed and the valve sleeve 28 is in its lowered position, closing the ports 28.

The operation of this form is obvious. When the assembly is fl'rst lowered into the well casing, the valve sleeve is in its lowered position, which closes the ports. As soon as the annular body 30 is submerged in the well fluid, the weight of said body is decreased with relation to the volume of fluid it displaces. This decreases in weight due to submersion, permits the coiled spring 2? to immediately raise the body 30, which raises the valve sleeve to uncover the ports 20. The fluid in the casing escapes into the tubing, as has been described, and when the body 30 is no'longer submerged in fluid, the weight of said body cgmpresses the spring to slide the valve sleeve downwardly to close the ports 20. Obviously, when suficient fluid enters the casing to again submerge the body 30, the ports are again opened.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A valve including, a tubular mandrel adapted to be connected in a tubing string and having openings therein whereby communication between the well casing and mandrel is established, means for controlling the flow from the casing to the mandrel, a non-buoyant movable casing connected to the control means and having a hollow portion at its upper end, said hollow portion having an open top whereby well fluid from the well casing may enter the same, and means for supporting the non-buoyantmovable casing to hold the control means open so long as the non-buoyant movable casing is submerged, the lowering of the fluid level below the top of said casing causing fluid to be trapped in the casing and the weight of this fluid overcoming the supporting means to close the control means and cut oh the flow, whereby the level of the fluid controls the operation of the control means.

2. A valve including, a tubular mandrel adapted to be connected in a tubing string and having openings therein whereby communication between the well casing and mandrel is established, means for controlling the flow from the casing to the mandrel, and a non-buoyant movable casing connected to the control means for actuating the same and subjected to the well fluid Within the well casing, the non-buoyant movable casing having a hollow portion at its upper end. said hollow-portion having an open top whereby the well fluid may enter the same, whereby the position of the casing and control means connected thereto is dependent on whether or not the non-buoyant movable casing is submerged in the well fluid.

3. A valve including, a tubular mandrel adapted to be connected in a tubing string and having openings therein whereby communication between the well casing and mandrel is established, means for controlling the flow from the casing to the mandrel, a movable casing connected to the control means and having a hollow portion at its upper end, said hollow portion having an open top whereby well fluid from the well casing may enter the same, and a resilient means for supporting the movable casing to hold the control means open so long as the movable casing is submerged, the lowering of the fluid level below the top of said casing causing fluid to be trapped in the casing and the weight of this fluid overcoming the tension of the supporting means to close the control means and cut off the flow, whereby the level of the fluid controls the operation of the control means.

4. A valve including, a tubular mandrel adapted to be connected in a tubing string and having openings therein whereby communication between the well casing and mandrel is established,

means for controlling the flow from the casing to the mandrel, a movable casing connected to the control means for actuating the same and subjected to the well fluid within the well casing, the movable casing having a hollow portion at its upper end, said hollow portion having an open top whereby the well fluid may enter the same, and resilient means capable of normally supporting the movable casing in its raised position, whereby when the casing is submerged in fluid the casing and control means is in one position and when the fluid falls below the upper end of the movable casing the weight of the fluid trapped in the casing overcomes the tension of the resilient supporting means to move the casing and control means to its other position.

5. A valve including, a shell having an open lower end, a tubular mandrel extending axially within the shell and having openings therein whereby communication is established between the well casing and said mandrel, means for controlling the flow of fluid through said openings, a movable casing located between the mandrel and shell and connected to the control means and having a hollow portion at its upper end, said hollow portion having an open top whereby well fluid from the well casing may enter the same, and means for supporting the movable casing to hold the control means open so long as the movable casing is submerged, the lowering of the fluid level below the top of said casing causing fluid to be trapped in the casing and the weight of this fluid overcoming the supporting means to close the control means and cut off the flow, whereby the level of the fluid controls the operation of the control means.

6. A valve assembly including, a tubular mandrel adapted to be connected in a tubing string and having openings therein whereby communication between the well casing andinterior of the mandrel is established, means for controlling the flow from the casing to the mandrel, a movable solid member connected to the control means exposed to the well fluids in the casing, and means for supporting the member to hold the control means open when the member is submerged in the fluids, said means being overcome by the weight of the member when said member is not submerged, whereby the control means is closed when the fluid level within the casing falls to a predetermined point.

7. A valve including, a tubular mandrel adapted to be connected in a tubing string and having openings therein whereby communication between the well casing and mandrel is established, means for controlling the flow from the casing to the mandrel, a movable casing connected to the control means for actuating the same and subjected to the well fluid within the well casing, the movable casing having a hollow portion' extending downwardly from its upper end, said hollow portion having an open top, whereby well fluid may enter the same, and a coiled spring, engaged beneath the movable casing capable of supporting said movable casing in its raised position, whereby the control means is held open so long as the movable casing is submerged and when the fluid level falls below the upper end of the movable casing the weight of the fluid trapped in the casing overcomes the tension of the coiled spring to close the control means and cut ofi the flow, whereby the level of the fluid controls the operation of the control means.

8. A valve including, a hollow body adapted to be connected in a tubing string and having openings therein for establishing communication between the well casing and tubing string, means for controlling the flow from the casing to the tubing string, and a non-buoyant movable means operatively connected with the hollow body for actuating the control means, said movable means being unexposed to the pressure within the well tubing and being actuated by the fluid within the casing.

9. A valve including, a hollow body adapted to be connected in a tubing string and having openings therein for establishing communication between the well casing and tubing string, means for controlling the flow from the casing to the tubing string, a non-buoyant movable means operatively connected with the hollow body for actuating the control means, said movable means being unexposed to the pressure within the well tubing and being actuated by the fluid within the casing, and a resilient means engaging the lower end of the non-buoyant means for aiding in moving said means upwardly oi the hollow body.

CHARLES S. CRICKMER. HANS C. GLI'I'SCH. 

